An historic record and pictorial description of the town of Meriden, Connecticut and men who have made it, Part 43

Author: Gillespie, Charles Bancroft, 1865-1915; Curtis, George Munson
Publication date: 1906
Publisher: Meriden, Conn. Journal publishing co.
Number of Pages: 1252

USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > Meriden > An historic record and pictorial description of the town of Meriden, Connecticut and men who have made it > Part 43

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In conclusion, the committee ask the citizens of Meriden to meet the de- mands made upon them in a spirit of generous liberality. The fund to be raised should be counted by thousands and not by hundreds.

Let us perform the promise we have made to the soldiers. Let us keep our plighted faith.

Committee-O. H. Platt, I. C. Lewis, E. W. Hatch, Eli Butler, John Ives.

Meriden, Dec. 24th, 1863.

The Fair was an eminent success. There were present each evening prob- ably not less than seven hundred per- sons. The hall was tastefully deco- rated. There were tablets on which were painted in large black letters the names of local and national soldiers, our lamented dead and the names of battles in which Meriden soldiers had distinguished themselves. About the room were numerous booths repre- senting tents, in which refreshments were served, and tables abundantly laden with tempting wares.

Thursday evening was devoted to tableaux, pantomimes and music by gentlemen from the Meriden Musical Association. Friday evening the young people enjoyed themselves with a grand dance. Saturday evening the articles unsold were disposed of to the highest bidder. The proceeds of the J. H. Farnsworth.

Fair netted about two thousand dol- lars.

FAIR AND FESTIVAL.

On Monday, Tuesday and Wednes- day, February 13th, 14th and 15th, 1865, a great Fair and Festival was given in the Town Hall, jointly in be- half of the destitute families of the Meriden soldiers, and the Ladies' Sol- diers' Aid Society. Arrangements were made on a most extensive scale and a large number of our most capa- ble and energetic women and men constituted the committees.

Executive Committee-Mrs. P. J. Clark, Mrs. J. H. Farnsworth, Hon. O. H. Platt and Isaac C. Lewis.

Treasurer-Alden Clark.

The Festival was in every way a decided success. Many thanks and much credit was given Mrs. P. J. Clark and Hon. O. H. Platt, of the Executive Committee for the leading and active part taken by them. The Fair netted upwards of thirteen hun- dred dollars.

LADIES' SOLDIERS' AID SOCIETY.

In February, 1864, the ladies of Meriden formed a Soldiers' Aid So- ciety, their object being to incite the people of Meriden to more systematic and efficient effort in the cause for which they labor. This organization was an auxiliary to the New Haven branch of the U. S. Sanitary Com- mission.

The officers were:

Directresses-Mrs. P. J. Clark, Mrs.

Treasurer-Mrs. John Ives. Secretary-Mrs. Oliver Rice.

MERIDEN IN THE CIVIL WAR.

Board of Managers-Mrs. Lucas C. 2 lbs. dried apples, besides cotton and linen pieces.

Hotchkiss, Mrs. Levi Butler, Miss Georgiana Parker, Mrs. Dr. Churchill, Mrs. A. E. Bull, Miss Helen Bradley. Mrs. Eli C. Birdsey, Mrs. Fred Ives, Mrs. Lyman Clark, Mrs. Chas. Page, Mrs. D. C. Easton, Mrs. I. C. Lewis, Mrs. Eli Butler, Miss Laura Brooks, Mrs. Jacob Eaton, Mrs. Elijah Rice, Mrs. John Evarts, Mrs. Edward Gris- wold.

"It is proposed to canvass the town of Meriden to collect funds to furnish our Soldiers' Aid Society with money to carry on its operations. Citizens, we pray you receive our messengers kindly and give-remembering the noble band of heroes for whom it is asked."

The following reports for two months will show how earnestly the women of Meriden worked for the comfort of the soldiers.

The Ladies' Aid Society of Meriden in November, 1864, donated $108 in cash subscriptions to the "Ten Cent Fund" and likewise the following ar- ticles : 12 cotton shirts, 2 surgical do, 9 flannel do, 53 pairs flannel drawers, 2 pair cotton drawers, 26 pair woolen socks, 33 handkerchiefs, 3 quilts, I shoulder quilt, 13 arm slings, 17 house- wives, 40 cushions, 2 pillows, 5 pillow cases, bandages, rags and lint, 1814 lbs. dried fruit, 3 cans blackberries, IO gallons pickles, sage, hops and Har- per's Weekly.

The report for December, 1864, was : 25 pairs of flannel drawers, II flannel shirts, 8 pairs of socks, I sheet, 6 handkerchiefs, 314 lbs. dried currants,

For purchase of materials the con- tribution was sixty dollars. The do- nation and contribution to the "Ten Cent Fund" by the Young Ladies' Fair, First Congregational Church of West Meriden amounted to one hun- dred and forty dollars.

THANKSGIVING DINNER.

At a meeting of citizens held Nov. 14th, 1864, it was proposed that the loyal citizens of Meriden send the sol- diers at the front a Thanksgiving din- ner, and a committee was appointed to solicit contributions of money and eatables. Their report follows :

"The committee appointed to take charge of the fund and provisions for the Soldiers' Thanksgiving Dinner beg leave to report that they packed and forwarded seven cases containing one hundred and twenty-five turkeys, with chickens, spare-ribs, pickles, jellies, pies, tomatoes, doughnuts, stewed pears, cakes, etc., with two barrels of onions, three barrels of apples, three barrels of potatoes, and two cases of pickles, which we have reason to be- lieve have reached the army and navy in good order. The committee take this occasion to thank the donors for their timely liberality, and to congrat- ulate the citizens of Meriden on hav- ing the pleasure of bearing their share in this outburst of loyalty and delight so well expressed in a National Thanksgiving, and for their sympathy so well deserved toward our army and navy, while in their untold privations

A CENTURY OF MERIDEN.

and sacrifices they stand by the flag of our country. The committee have a small balance in their hands which they purpose to appropriate to the de- serving families of the soldiers in our midst.

Committee-R. Linsley, Eli Butler, E. W. Hatch."

VOTES OF THE TOWN RELATING TO VOLUNTEERS.

In pursuance of notice, at a Town Meeting held at Town Hall on Sat- urday, June 29th, at 2 o'clock, of which James S. Brooks, Esq., was appointed moderator, it was

Voted, That the sum of $3,000 be appropriated by the Town of Meriden in addition to the sum of $5,000 appropriated in town meeting on the 25th day of April A. D., 1861, and that said sum of $3,000 be placed in the hands of four that day appointed to be by them disposed of as follows :

First, So much thereof as may be necessary to pay for the pistols fur- nished Capt. Byxbee's company mus- tered into the first of Conn. Vols.

Second, So much thereof as shall be necessary to furnish pistols or other arms for Captain Cook's company mustered into the Third Regiment Conn. Vols. if in the judgment of said committee it shall be deemed best to furnish either said pistols or other arms, and lastly that the balance thereof not expended for the pur- poses hereinbefore stated be held by said committee to be by them expended if necessary for the support of the wives and families of said volunteers,

and for other purposes and objects expressed in the votes passed in town meeting on said 25th day of April, 1861. Also

Voted, That if the committee shall procure pistols, rifles or other arms for Capt. Cook's company, they shall de- liver the same to Capt. Cook upon his agreement to return the same to the Town of Meriden when said company shall return home, except such as may, by the fortunes of war, have passed from under his control.

In pursuance of notice, at a Town Meeting held on Wednesday, July 16th, 1862, at 2 p. m., of which meet- ing J. R. Cook was appointed chair- man, it was

Voted, That the Town of Mer- iden appropriate the sum of $50 bounty to be paid to each recruit who shall enlist in any Connecticut regi- ment now in the field, in the 14th Connecticut regiment or any subse- quent regiment which shall be organ- ized in Connecticut, in answer to the President's late call for 300,000 men, provided such recruit shall be a resi- dent of Meriden at the time of his en- listment or shall enlist in a company started or got up in Meriden, whether resident of Meriden or elsewhere.

Voted, Second, That whenever any recruit, resident of Meriden, shall have a mother or other persons de- pendent for support upon such re- cruit, such mother and other persons shall be entitled to receive from the town the same monthly payment as is now given by the state of Connecticut

MERIDEN IN THE CIVIL WAR.

for the support of the wife and chil- dren of volunteers, and the selectmen shall determine who shall be entitled to such monthly pay under this vote.

Third, Voted, That said sum of fifty dollars bounty be paid at the time such recruit shall be sworn into the service of the United States and that the se- lectmen be directed to pay the moneys appropriated by this meeting out of any moneys in the treasury belonging to the Town of Meriden; and if no such moneys be in the treasury, that the selectmen be authorized and em- powered to raise the sum by loan or loans upon the credit of the town, and to execute and deliver the proper ob- ligations of the town to repay such loan or loans to the lender or lenders thereof.

In pursuance to notice, at a Town Meeting held on Saturday, August 23rd, 1862, it was

Voted, That the town pay a bounty of one hundred dollars to each volunteer from this town for the nine months volunteers under the Govern- or's call for seven regiments of volun- teers, to a number not exceeding that required to make one full company.

Voted, That the selectmen be au- thorized to borrow the money to carry out the above vote.

In pursuance of notice, a special Town Meeting was held on the 24th day of August, 1863, of which Henry C. Butler was moderator, which said meeting unanimously passed the fol- lowing preamble and resolution, to wit :

Whereas, By the operation of the Act of Congress approved March 3rd, 1863, entitled, "An act for enrolling and calling out the National forces. and for other purposes," many of the in- habitants of the town have been or are liable to be drafted into the military service of the United States whose labors are required for the support of their families and others dependent upon them, and whereby the town is exposed to charge on that account, and other inhabitants have been or are liable to be drafted who have not the means enabling them to pay the United States the sum required to be paid for the procuration of a substitute as pro- vided by the 13th section of the act aforesaid.

First, Voted, That the selectmen of the town of Meriden are hereby au- thorized, instructed and directed to pay to each man from the Town of Meri- den who have been heretofore, or who may be hereafter drafted into the ser- vice of the United States under the act of Congress approved March 3rd, 1863, entitled "An act for enrolling and calling out the National forces, etc." the sum of $300, upon such drafted man being mustered into said service.

Second, Voted, That the selectmen of the Town of Meriden are hereby authorized, instructed and directed to pay to each man from the Town of Meriden who has been heretofore or who may hereafter be drafted into the service of the United States under the act of Congress, "An act for en- rolling and calling out the National

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forces, etc," approved March 3rd, 1863, who furnishes an acceptable sub- stitute, the cost of such substitute not exceeding in any case the sum of $300, upon such substitute being mustered into the United States service.

Third, Voted, That the selectmen of the Town of Meriden be and they are hereby authorized, instructed and di- rected to pledge the faith and credit of the Town of Meriden for the purpose of raising the money necessary to carry out the foregoing votes.

In pursuance of call at a Town Meeting held at the Town House Thursday, August 11th, 1864, at 2 o'clock p. m., Jared R. Cook was ap- pointed moderator.

Said meeting after free discussion passed the following resolutions of- fered by Hon. O. H. Platt, to wit:

Resolved, That the sum of twenty thousand dollars or so much as may be necessary thereof be and the same is hereby appropriated by the Town of Meriden for the purpose of encour- aging enlistments and of paying ex- penses incurred in filling the quota of the Town of Meriden under the pres- ent call for $500,000 men.

Resolved, That said sum be placed in the hands of the selectmen for the purpose aforesaid to be used at their discretion.

Resolved, That said selectmen are requested not to pay more than the sum of one hundred dollars for the enlistment of any man for one year, two hundred dollars for two years, and three hundred dollars for three years.

Resolved, That the selectmen are hereby authorized to borrow said sum of money in the name and upon the credit of the town.

In pursuance of call, a Town Meet- ing was held in the Institute room in Town House on Wednesday, August 24th, 1864, at 2 o'clock p. m. of which Henry C. Butler was appointed mod- erator.

The following resolutions offered by O. H. Platt, Esq., were upon free discussion, unanimously adopted, to wit:

Resolved, That the selectmen of Meriden be and are hereby authorized and directed to pay to each man who has enlisted or shall hereafter enlist counting upon the quota of the Town of Meriden under the present call for 500,000 men a sum which with the amount he may receive from the fund raised and to be raised by subscription shall amount to the sum of six hundred dollars if enlisting for the period of three years, and three hundred dollars if enlisting for a less period.

Resolved, That the selectmen of Meriden be and are hereby authorized and directed to pay to each person who has procured or shall procure a sub- stitute counting on the quota of said town under said call, a sum which with the amount he may receive from said subscription fund shall amount to six hundred dollars, if said substitute is or shall be accepted for three years, and three hundred dollars if accepted for a less period, provided, no per- son shall be paid a sum which with the

MERIDEN IN THE CIVIL WAR.

state bounty shall be greater than the amount paid by him for such substi- tute.

Resolved, That the selectmen be and are hereby authorized to borrow all moneys required to carry these resolu- tions into effect upon the faith and credit of the town.

Resolved, That the resolutions passed in town meeting Aug. 11th, 1864, be and are hereby rescinded, but

Photo by Akers & Pigeon. MAJOR THEODORE BYXBEE.

all acts done by the selectmen thereun- der be and hereby are validated and confirmed. Said meeting also passed the following, to wit :

Resolved, That the four several banks in this town be hereby requested to loan in equal amounts temporarily,

the necessary funds to carry into ef- fect the foregoing resolutions.

In pursuance of call, a special Town Meeting was held at the Insti- tute room of which Henry C. Butler was appointed moderator.

O. H. Platt offered the following resolutions which, after discussion, were adopted, as follows, to wit:

Resolved, That the selectmen of this town be and are hereby authorized and directed to pay for the enlistment of every volunteer for three years who shall be credited to the Town of Mer- iden, a sum not exceeding one hun- dred dollars and shall also pay to every person who shall furnish an accepta- ble substitute for three years who shall be credited to the Town of Meriden a sum not exceeding one hundred dol- lars, provided that the number of vol- unteers and substitutes for which said amount shall be paid, shall not exceed fifty.

Resolved, That the selectmen be and hereby are authorized to borrow on the faith and credit of the town suf- ficient money to carry out this vote.

In pursuance of call, a special Town Meeting was held at the Town House Saturday, Jan. 14th, 1865. Jared R. Cook was appointed moder- ator.

Voted, That the selectmen be and they are hereby authorized to pay such sum for the enlisting of men or ob- taining substitutes to apply .on the quota of Meriden under the present call for 300,000 men, as they shall (leem fit.

A CENTURY OF MERIDEN.

SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR

Although Meriden showed her pa- triotism in pronounced degree by fur- nishing all the men asked for by the government, her sons had no oppor- tunity of going to the front and tak- ing an active part in the War with Spain. They were, however, ready and even anxious for the fray but the sudden and happy termination of hos- tilities made it unnecessary for them to show the fighting material contained in their ranks.

It was the first of June, 1898, that Captain C. B. Bowen, then on the re- tired list of the Connecticut National Guard, was commissioned by the Ad- jutant General's office of Connecticut to recruit a full company of men for the First Infantry, Connecticut Volun- teers, a part of which regiment was then in the field. The Meriden com- pany was recruited by him and ready to be mustered in June 15, but owing to delays by the war office, the United States army surgeons and mustering officer did not report here until July 5. On that date began the physical examinations of the men recruited, and finally on the afternoon of July 9, 1898, the entire company, officers and men, mustered to its full comple- ment of 109, was formally mustered into the service at the town hall, at which ceremony none but the

recruits, the mustering officer and surgeons were allowed to be present. All the recruits took the oath at once, and that same evening, in compliance with orders, boarded a train for Fort Knox, Me. Fort Knox is an old style stone fort located on the banks of the Penobscot river opposite Bucksport, Maine, about fifty miles from the coast. The Meriden company was designated by the war office as L Company of the First Infantry, U. S. Volunteers, and assigned to that regiment. The regi- ment had been mustered into the ser- vice May 4, 1898, at Camp Haven, New London, and May 22 was as- signed to duty at different stations. The colonel's headquarters, unassigned field officers and six companies of the regiment were at Fort Knox when Company L arrived there. The other companies of the regiment were sta- tioned as follows: With the lieutenant colonel two companies at Plumb Isl- and, N. Y .; two companies at Fort Preble, Me. ; one company at Gull Is- land, N. Y., and one company at Fort Constitution, N. H. The field and other officers of this regiment were: colonel, Charles L. Burdett, Hartford, Conn. ; lieutenant colonel, A. G. Ham- mond, of Fort Leavenworth, Kan .; major, John Hickey, South Manches- ter, Conn .; major, Edward Schulze,

SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR.

Hartford, Conn .; captain and adju- tant, J. M. Wainwright, Hartford, Conn. ; first lieutenant regiment quar- termaster, A. H. Bronson, Hartford, Conn .; first lieutenant and battalion adjutant, P. J. Cosgrove, Hartford, Conn .; first lieutenant and battalion adjutant, F. E. Johnson, Hartford, Conn .; major and surgeon, T. F. Rockwell, Rockville, Conn .; first lieu- tenant and assistant surgeon, R. S. Griswold, Hartford, Conn .; first lieu- tenant and assistant surgeon, J. B. McCook, Hartford, Conn .; chaplain, H. H. Kelsey, Hartford, Conn.

The regiment at this time comprised but ten companies, but by virtue of general order No. 61, Headquarters of the Army, June 1, 1898, providing for the extension of regiments to twelve companies allowed the mustering of Companies L and M, the former of which was furnished by Meriden. On July 16, 1898, the war department is- sued orders for the rendezvous of the entire regiment at Camp Haven, New London, and from there was ordered, July 18, to Camp Alger, Va. The regiment at this time comprised 1,362 officers and men with band, and on their way to Camp Alger marched through Washington, D. C., where they were reviewed by the Secretary of War. The regiment was assigned to the Second Brigade, First Division and Second Army Corps and on Sep- tember 7 left Camp Alger for Camp Haven, Conn., arriving two days later. The entire regiment was shortly after furloughed for thirty days, at the ex- piration of which time it was ren-

dezvoused at Hartford, Conn., for the final muster out, which occurred Oc- tober 31, 1898.

On the memorial tablet, placed in the First Regiment armory at Hart- ford, in memory of those who died while in the service during the Span- ish-American war, is the name of the only man lost by Company L during the service, Arthur C. Lucchini, who died October 20, 1898, while on a fur- lough, from fever contracted while in camp.

The roster of Company L was as follows: Captain, Charles B. Bowen ; first lieutenant, Delbert R. Jones ; sec- ond lieutenant, Raymond G. Keeney, Somerville, Conn .; first sergeant, Philip T. Vibert ; quartermaster ser- geant, Arthur A. Abel; sergeant, W. H. Rees; sergeant, Howard L. Bar- tram; sergeant, Walter L. Bevins; sergeant, William H. Banner ; corpo- ral, Clifford A. Hauschild ; corporal, Charles E. Wachtelhausen ; corporal, Fred H. Relyea ; corporal, Frederick C. Benziger, Yalesville; corporal, Thomas P. Timothy, Wallingford : corporal, Othniel Ives ; musician, Jo- seph G. Aichler ; musician, Edwin F. Bolton, Wallingford ; artificer, Eugene W. Early ; wagoner, Louis E. Couter- mash ; privates, Alfred A. Abel, Hart- ford, discharged August II, disability ; Louis Ammann, George H. Anthony, Southington ; Axel M. Benson, Louis H. Bickford, Ferdinand L. Borchard, Maxwell Bofird, Clarence A. Bower, Yalesville : Charles A. Brecklin, Chas. S. Burdett, Albert A. Burr, promoted to corporal : Walter W. Burr, Philip

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A CENTURY OF MERIDEN.

T. Carlin, Edward Carter, Anton Con- reaux, transferred to band; Arthur Cooper, John J. Cox, Wallingford ; Rollo Cobb, South Meriden ; Frank E. Dainton, Frank A. Dulicke, Charles J. Depree, Frank W. Durkin, Bristol ; Alfred Dussault, John W. Fletcher, New Haven ; Henry E. Folse, John V. Foran, John J. Francis, Wallingford ; Thomas Galvin, Willis W. Gardner, Louis Goldstein, Fred Gollnick, Mi- chael Goodman, Joseph H. Gracey, Harry C. Granger, William G. Hiller, Harry E. Harvey, Morris Hennessy, John W. Hickey, promoted to corpo- ral; Edward Higgins, Edwin T. Ho- gan, John Hopwood, James D. Hour- igan, William G. Hyde, Michael Jirma, Wallingford ; Herman Kaschube, John Kay, John J. Kelley, John J. Kennedy, Wallingford; John King, Joseph R. King, promoted to corporal ; Chas. J. Kline, Wm. J. Knoblauch, August O. Kline, William D. Lee, Philip F. F. Lacourciere, James J. Lenihan, Arthur

C. Lucchini, died October 20; John G. McGoldrick, Edward T. McLaugh- lin, Patrick J. Mulroney, William E. Noonan, August Numann, Charles J. O'Donnell, Charles A. Olson, William L. Penfield, promoted to corporal ; Frank W. Pickhardt, John F. Plun- ket, Charles S. Perkins, Jr., promoted to corporal; Walter S. Reama, Eu- gene C. Rogers, Walter H. Royce, Bristol ; Julius G. Runge, Lorenzo C. Russell, Joseph Seneal, George W. Shea, promoted to corporal; Patrick J. Shea, Norwich, transferred from Company A, Third ; Anthony A. Shee- hey, Wallingford; John J. Shinkey, Patrick J. Shortell, Herbert J. Siegel, Leonard Skinner, promoted to corpo- ral; Michael Smith, Harry Stanley, discharged August 6, for disability ; Floyd W. Stillman, Thomas E. Tighe, Whitney A. Todd, Yalesville ; Michael Walsh, Frank M. Wollschlager, Wil- liam Wren, Middletown, and. William G. Young.

MERIDEN'S PUBLIC PARKS.

MERIDEN'S PUBLIC PARKS

CITY PARK.

Meriden possesses at the end of the first century of its existence, a park

the direct supervision of that board.

The oldest of Meriden's parks is known as City Park and has been re- served as a public breathing place

LOOKING TOWARD WALLINGFORD FROM WEST PEAK.

system of which its residents may well be justly proud ; for in both area and scenic beauty it is unexcelled by any city in New England.

In 1899, by an amendment of the city charter, a park commission was created and Meriden's excellent park system since that time has been under 3

since 1880. The situation of City Park makes it a convenient spot for an hour's recreation, being situated quite near the business center and con- tains about fifteen acres.

It is bounded on the south by Bunker avenue, on the west by Frank- lin street, on the north by Park ave-

A CENTURY OF MERIDEN.

nue, and on the west by Warren street, and adjoins Brookside Park.

For many years City Park was given but little attention by the city but since the creation of the park commission many improvements have been made.

oaks, red oaks, hickory, hard and soft maple, wild cherry and stately elm trees, and afford ample shelter from the rays of Old Sol, to tired individ- uals seeking respite from home and business cares.

The city has generously provided

LOOKING WEST FROM WEST PEAK.

City Park contains some of the stateliest shade trees in or about Meriden and many of them are older than the town itself. Nature has richly endowed this park with chestnut trees which bend with a friendly nod to the pin oaks, yellow

this park with swings and there is am- ple room on the well kept lawns for children to gambol on the green. This park contains a pavilion of gen- erous capacity in case of sudden show- ers and other conveniences necessary to a public park. There is also a pig-

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An historic record and pictorial description of the town of Meriden, Connecticut and men who have made it, Part 43

Author: Gillespie, Charles Bancroft, 1865-1915; Curtis, George Munson Publication date: 1906 Publisher: Meriden, Conn. Journal publishing co. Number of Pages: 1252

Author: Gillespie, Charles Bancroft, 1865-1915; Curtis, George Munson
Publication date: 1906
Publisher: Meriden, Conn. Journal publishing co.
Number of Pages: 1252